WMX—Ⅰ型微波消解COD快速测定法与K_2Cr_2O_7法测定COD的对比

具有对两种方法在实验过程中的分析对比，反映了WMX—I型微波消解COD快速沉淀法高效节能的特点，适应监测的需要具有实际意义．     

具有K2NiF4型结构的稀土复合氧化物对有机胺的催化降解作用研究

采用柠檬酸络合分解法合成了四方晶点、Ｋ２ＮｉＦ４型结构的稀土复合氧人ＬａＳｒＭＯ４（Ｍ＝Ｍｎ，Ｆｅ，Ｃｏ，Ｎｉ）。实验结果，该类氧化物催化剂对恶臭和有毒的有机胺类化合物具有较好的催化降解作用，有机胺的氧降解可达１００％，而氮氧化物的产生率低于１０％，其含量可大大低于排放标准。     

我国南方一些土壤的钾素Q/I特性

钾素Q/I特性是表征土壤钾素状况的一个重要指标,它能同时度量土壤钾素的强度和容量。本文研究了我国南方一些土壤的钾素Q/I特性、结果表明:(1)不同土壤具有不同的Q/I曲线,它们表征不同的土壤钾素有效性和钾素状况;(2)土壤钾位缓冲容量(PBC~K)与阳离子交换量呈极显著正相关(r=0.9288),石灰土和紫色土的PBC~K值高于砖红壤、赤红壤和红壤,而ARe~K值则相反;(3)—△K°与土壤交换性钾呈极显著正相关(r=0.7870),但是具有一定含量的2:1型粘粒矿物的石灰土和紫色土,其—△K°明显低于交换性钾量,因此,lmol L~(-1)中性NH_4OAc可能会过高地估计土壤的交换性钾。     

Effects of different sludge disintegration methods on sludge moisture distribution and dewatering performance

A key step in sludge treatment is sludge dewatering. However, activated sludge is generally very difficult to be dewatered. Sludge dewatering performance is largely affected by the sludge moisture distribution. Sludge disintegration can destroy the sludge structure and cell wall, so as change the sludge floc structure and moisture distribution, thus affecting the dewatering performance of sludge. In this article, the disintegration methods were ultrasound treatment, K2 Fe O4oxidation and KMn O4 oxidation. The degree of disintegration(DDCOD), sludge moisture distribution and the final water content of sludge cake after centrifuging were measured. Results showed that three disintegration methods were all effective, and K2 Fe O4oxidation was more efficient than KMn O4 oxidation. The content of free water increased obviously with K2 Fe O4and KMn O4 oxidations, while it decreased with ultrasound treatment. The changes of free water and interstitial water were in the opposite trend. The content of bounding water decreased with K2 Fe O4oxidation, and increased slightly with KMn O4 oxidation, while it increased obviously with ultrasound treatment. The water content of sludge cake after centrifuging decreased with K2 Fe O4oxidation, and did not changed with KMn O4 oxidation, but increased obviously with ultrasound treatment. In summary, ultrasound treatment deteriorated the sludge dewaterability, while K2 Fe O4and KMn O4 oxidation improved the sludge dewaterability.     

Coltan from Central Africa,international trade and implications for any certification

The exploitation of coltan in Central Africa can be considered a case of conflict minerals due to its nature. Many international organizations and bodies, national governments and private sector organizations seek to address this conflict, in particular via transparency, certification and accountability along the material supply chain. This paper analyses the international trade dimension of coltan and gives evidence on the dimension of illicit trade of coltan. The authors start from the hypothesis that illicit trade of coltan sooner or later will enter the market and will be reflected in the statistics. The paper is structured in the following manner: first, a short section gives a profile of coltan production and markets; second, an overview of the mining situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and related actors. The third section addresses mechanisms, actors and measurement issues involved in the international trade of coltan. The final part draws lessons for certification and conflict analysis and offers some guidance for future research.     

Molecular studies on the ouabain binding site of the Na+, K+-ATPase in milkweed butterflies

Summary. The Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase of the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is insensitive to the inhibition by cardiac glycosides due to an amino acid replacement: histidine instead of asparagine at position 122 of the α-subunit representing the ouabain binding site. By PCR amplification of the DNA sequence of this site, a PCR product of 270 bp was obtained from DNA extracted from Danainae species (Danaus plexippus, D. chrysippus, D. gillipus, D. philene, D. genutia, Tirumala hamata, Euploea spp., Parantica weiskei, P. melusine), Sphingidae (Daphnis nerii) and mimics of milkweed butterflies (Hypolimnas missipus, Limenitis archippus and L. arthemis, Nymphalidae). Analysis of the nucleotide sequences revealed that the single point mutation in the ouabain binding domain (AAC-Asn for CAC-His) was present only in Danaus plexippus, but not in the other species investigated. Since these milkweed butterflies also store cardenolides, other structural modifications of the Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase may have occurred or other strategies of cardenolide tolerance have been developed. Received 15 May 2000; accepted 29 June 2000     

Radiological monitoring: terrestrial natural radionuclides in Kinta District,Perak, Malaysia

Natural background gamma radiation and radioactivity concentrations were investigated from 2003 to 2005 in Kinta District, Perak, Malaysia. Sample locations were distant from any ‘amang’ processing plants. The external gamma dose rates ranged from 39 to 1039 nGy h⁻¹. The mean external gamma dose rate was 222 ± 191 nGy h⁻¹. Small areas of relatively enhanced activity were located having external gamma dose rates of up to 1039 ± 104 nGy h⁻¹. The activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were analyzed by using a high-resolution co-axial HPGe detector system. The activity concentration ranges were 12–426 Bq kg⁻¹ for ²³⁸U, 19–1377 Bq kg⁻¹ for ²³²Th and <19–2204 Bq kg⁻¹ for ⁴⁰ K. Based on the radioactivity levels determined, the gamma-absorbed dose rates in air at 1 m above the ground were calculated. The calculated dose rates and measured dose rates had a good correlation coefficient, R of 0.94. To evaluate the radiological hazard of the natural radioactivity, the radium equivalent activity, the gamma-absorbed dose rate and the mean population weighted dose rate were calculated. An isodose map for the Kinta District was also produced.     

Distribution and ratios of Cs and K in control and K-treated coconut trees at Bikini Island where nuclear test fallout occurred: effects and implications

Coconut trees growing on atolls of the Bikini Islands are on the margin of K deficiency because the concentration of exchangeable K in coral soil is very low, ranging from only 20 to 80 mg kg⁻¹. When provided with additional K, coconut trees absorb large quantities of K and this uptake of K significantly alters the patterns of distribution of ¹³⁷Cs within the plant. Following a single K fertilization event, mean total K in trunks of K-treated trees is 5.6 times greater than in trunks of control trees. In contrast, ¹³⁷Cs concentration in trunks of K-treated and control trees is statistically the same while ¹³⁷Cs is significantly lower in edible fruits of K-treated trees. Within one year after fertilization (one rainy season), K concentration in soil is back to naturally low concentrations. However, the tissue concentrations of K in treated trees stays very high internally in the trees for years while ¹³⁷Cs concentration in treated trees remains very low in all tree compartments except for the trunk. Potassium fertilization did not change soil Cs availability.     

Suitable gamma energy for gamma-spectrometric determination of U in surface soil samples of a high rainfall area in India

The paper presents a systematic study on suitability of various gamma lines for monitoring of ²³⁸U activity in soil samples around a uranium mineralized zone of Kylleng Pyndengsohiong Mawthabah (Domiasiat), Meghalaya in India. The area lies in a plateau region which recieves the highest average annual rainfall (12,000 mm) in the world. The geochemical behaviour of the uranium and its daughter products at such wet climatic conditions imposes restrictions to assess ²³⁸U through gamma lines of radon decay products. Soil samples were collected from nine locations around the uranium mineralization zone for analysis. The ratio of the concentration of uranium obtained from gamma energies of radium daughter products to the 63.29 keV of ²³⁴Th was found to vary from 1.01 to 2.07, which indicates a pronounced disequilibrium between uranium and radium daughters. The results obtained from various gamma energies were validated from the data generated by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) technique. The ²³⁸U activities from the two analytical methods show a well fitted regression line with correlation coefficient 0.99 which validates the reliability of 63.29 keV energy for estimation of uranium in such conditions.